Greenhouse Glazing

Team 1

Garrett Kolmer, Joe DeArmitt, Amy Maffei

Concept Ideas

Criteria/ Requirements WF of criteria Polyethelene Film Recycled Bags Hemp Plastic Bottle SkylightTransmissivity 0.3 5 4 2 3Light Diffusion 0 2 3 3 4Thermal Insulation 0.1 1 1 2 5Longevity 0.2 2 2 3 5Affordability 0.4 2 4 1 3WR Totals 2.8 3.3 1.8 3.6

Polyethylene Film

• Greenhouse covered in sheets of polyethylene film

• Pros- Transmits and diffuses light fairly well, easy to install, photodegradable

• Cons- Not very durable, extremely expensive

Recycled Grocery Bags

• Made of material similar to polethyelene• Could set up recycling system to gather used

bags and manufacture them into a large sheet to cover the greenhouse

• Pros-Same benefits as polyethylene film, better for the enviroment

• Cons- Fragile, would be difficult and expensive to set up recycling system

Hemp Plastic

• Hemp can be used to create a plastic that could cover the greenhouse

• Pros-Durable, biodegradable, can be made with local materials

• Cons-Not very translucent, doesn’t diffuse light well, expensive to make

Bottle Skylight- Chosen Concept

• Greenhouse covered in cheap, well insulating fabric, wood or industrial hemp plastic

• Two liter bottles filled with water and bleach attached to greenhouse supports

• Holes in covering to snugly fit around the middles of the bottles

• Half of the bottle is above the covering and half is below• Sunlight hits the top of the bottle and is distributed all over

the inside of the greenhouse

Transmissivity/Light Diffusion

• The bottles themselves will transmit the light very well.

• The covering will be opaque and will not transmit the light as well.

• However, the bottles will diffuse the light and spread it all over the greenhouse.

Thermal Insulation

• The greenhouse will have very good insulation compared to other concepts.

• The covering will help hold in the heat.• This will help keep the greenhouse at a good

temperature and provide a consistent environment for plants to grow.

Longevity

• Our method allows us to cover the greenhouse with a durable material, as opposed to flimsy plastic like some other methods.

• It will hold up well to the elements.• This will allow the greenhouse to be used for

years.

Affordability

• Our concept will be extremely affordable, particularly compared to concepts using an expensive plastic covering.

• The bottles will be recycled and essentially free.• The covering can be made out of the cheapest

material available, as only the bottles are needed for the light.

Other Benefits

• Environmentally friendly, can be made from recycled materials

• Easy to assemble and repair• Potential to look good, depending on the covering• Doesn’t require additional chemicals for

protection, like rice bags would

Group members- Amy Maffei, Joe DeArmitt, Garrett Kolmer